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(No Model.) E. J. ARMSTRONG V GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES. No. 368.044.Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

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M Attorney,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWIN J. ARMSTRONG, OF PAINTED POST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVESTONENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,044, dated August9, 1887.

Application filed April 30, 1887. Serial No. 236,685. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Painted Post, in the county of Steuben and State of NewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly-Wheel Governorsfor Steam-Engines; and I do hereby defibcla're the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will [0enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. I

This invention relates to that class of steamengine governors commonlycalled fly-wheel governors, such as have a laterallymovable eccentricsurrounding the'crank-shaft of the engine and weights actingcentrifugally in combination with a centripetally-acting spring to varythe position of the eccentric, and thus regulate the movement of thevalve and produce a uniform speed in the engine.

It has been usual heretofore in this class of governors to vary thespeed of the engine by sliding the weights alongtheir levers, but withentire disregard to the law governing their operation in so far aspreserving the same degree of isochronism at all speeds is concerned.Thus when the levers carrying the weights extend directly in a straightline from their pivotal points to the centers of the weights and saidweights are moved along said levers toward the pivotal points ofthelevers, it is evident that the governing will be less close, for thereason that the movement of the weights in shifting the eccentric thenbear a less proportion in distance from the center of the wheel to thatwhich they hear when out to ward the end of the lever, or, in otherwords, the throw of the weights is lessened, but their distance from thecenter of the wheel is not. Now, starting with the wheel at rest and theweights at the extreme ends of the lovers, it is evident that when thespeed of the wheel becomes high enough the weights will be thrownoutwardly,overcoming the normal centripetal force of the spring; but asone end of the springis rigidly secured its retractile strengthincreases as the weight advances outwardly, and thus increases itscentripetalforce, and as the diameter of the circle in which the weightstravel is enlarged or becomes greater with the outward movement theyconsequently have greater centrifugal force with which to meet theincreased centripetal force of the spring, and thus effect a balance.

It is found in practice to be necessary to have the centripetal force ofthe spring increase slightly faster than the centrifugal force of theweights, in order to prevent jumping or unsteady action of the governor.This, though necessary, is an evil, because the gov- 6o ernor, as theweights move outwardly, must obviously be rotated with greater speed.The difference between the speed required to start the weights in theiroutward movement and that required to maintain them in their extremeoutward position is termed by engineers percentage of governorvariation, and it is very desirable that this percentage be kept as lowas possible. If,now,the weights be moved in a direct line toward thepivotal points of their levers,it is evident that the speed of thegovernor will have to be higher, by reason of the lessened or reducedleverage, to overcome the tension or resilience of the spring. It isalso evident that, although havinga movement 7 through the same are of acircle, they yet do not have the same amount of movement in feet orinches, and consequently in their outward movement the centrifugal forcedoes not increase as rapidly as when the weights are at the So extremeend of the levers. If, then, the centrifugal force does not increase asrapidly, owing to the reduced leverage or the lessened travel of theweight, it is plain that the necessary increase of centrifugal forcemust be obtained by 8 5 increased rapidity of rotation, which increasesthe percentage of variation of the governor to a pernicious extent. Iovercome this diffi-' culty. by giving the weights a movement in adirection at such an angle to a line drawn 0 through the centers of thepivotal point and the weight as will bring the weights nearer the centerof the wheel as their outward movement occasioned by their shortenedleverage lessens, and thus preserve the same relation of 5 centrifugalto centripetal force in their various positions. By this means Ipreserve the same degree of isochronism through all the range of speedof which the governor is capable, which is the principal object of myinvention.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, agovernor embodying my invention is represented in side elcvation.

A. represents a ily-wheel suitably secured on the main or crank shaft Bof an engine. An eccentric, C, surrounds the main shaft and is providedwith a projecting arm, D, which is pivoted at its end to one of thespokes of the wheel near its rim, thus suspending the eccentric so thatit may swing or have a free lateral movement.

From the opposite side of the eccentric extends an arm, E, having itsend formed or shaped liken foot-that is, with two points of diiTerentlengths, which may be called, for the purposes of this specification,the heel b, and toe a. These arms 1) and E are cast with the projectingeccentric-ring 0, though, if desired, they may be cast separately andrigidly secured thereto. Two pins, 1/ a, are secured in the heel and toeI) a, respectively, and project laterally therefrom, or toward the wheelA. To the pin 1) one end of a flat spring, F, is fastened, its other endbeing rigidly secured to the rim of the wheel. A lever, Gr, having twooppositely-projecting wings, d e, is pivotally secured at f to one ofthe spokes of the wheel adjacent its rim. The wing d is somewhat shorterthan wing c and has its end curved forward and projects behind thetoe (0of arm E, and there comes in contact with the pin a, secured in saidtoe. The wing c is of greater length than wing d and terminates at apoint about midway between the pivotal points of lovers G and H, the endof said wing being slightly enlarged at its lower side and of rounded orcurved form.

To a spoke adjacent the end of wing c, I pivot a lever, II, having awing, 71, projecting toward lever G and similar lo wing 0, exceptingthat its curve is reverse to the curve of said wing c, and which is alsoprovided with a rounded end or ii p which projects under the end of wing0, and when at rest its normal p0 sition is against the point ofasuitablc projection, M, extending from the rim of the wheel, theprojection shown in this instance being also the balance-plate, which isdrawn to a point for the purpose named.

The levers G and II are slightly enlarged at or about their middleportion to one side of their pivotal points and a screw-threadedperforation formed therein, in which a screwthreaded rod, L-one in eachperf0ration-is inserted, the ends of said rods carrying suitableweights, N, which are either cast thereon or rigidly secured thereto, asshown in the drawing; but they may, if desired, be adj ustable on therods and the rods rigidly secured to the arms. As clearly shown in thedrawing, these rods L are set in the levers G H or project therefrom atsuch an. angle relative to each other and the levers that as the rodsare screwed into the lovers or the weights moved along the rods towardthe levers, if arigid rod and adjustable weight are employed, theweights will be brought nearer the center of the wheel, so that therelative degree of centrifugal force as the weights are thrown outwardwill be substantially the same as the increasing centripetal force ofthe spring, which, as above explained, is necessary to the variousspeeds to which the governor may be ad justed.

It will be noticed. that with this construction of a governor thebearings or wearing points of all the parts are normally under strain,each in some particular directiomwhich direction does not materiallychange during the operation of the governor, thus preventing any badeffects from lost motion which may be produced from the natural wear ofthe parts. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic governor i'or steam-engines, the combination, with alaterally-movable pivoted eccentric and a spring, of pivoted levershaving projecting wings, one of which is in contact with the eccentric,and wei hts secured to said levers adjustable at an angle between thepivotal points of the levers and the center of the wheel, substantiallyas described.

2. In an automatic governor for steam-engincs, the combination, with alaterally-movable pivoted eccentric and a spring secured to saideccentric, of a pair of winged levers pivoted to the wheel and havingtheir wings in contact, and one of said wings in contact with theeccentric, and rods provided with suitable weights adjustably secured tosaid levers at an angle between their pivotal points and the center ofthe wheel, whereby the adjustment of the weights toward the levers willbring them nearer the center of the wheel, as set forth.

3. In a fly-wheel governor, pivoted levers having adj ustable weightssecured thereto at an angle trending toward the center of said wheel,whereby the shortening of their leverage will throw them nearer thecenter of the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a fiy-wheel governor, of a suitablelaterally-movable eccentric, a spring attached thereto, a double-wingedpivoted lever having one of its wings connected with said eccentric, asingle-winged pivoted lever connected. with said double-winged lever,and adjustable weights secured to said levers at an angle, whereby saidweights, when their centrifugal travel is shortened, are brought incloser proximity to the center of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. A lly-wheel governor comprising a wheel, A, a spring, F, having oneend rigidly secured to said wheel, a pivoted laterally-movable ee- IIOcentric having arms D E, the latter having the In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in heel and toe b aand pins 1) a secured thereto,presence of two witnesses. a pivoted lever, G, having the Wings (1 e,the pivoted lever H; having the wing h, the rods v EDWIN ARMSTRONG 5 L,provided with weights N, secured to said Witnesses:

levers at an angle, and a suitable projection, PHILIP MAURO, M,substantially as described. 0. J. HEDRIOK.

